Origin

Middle English (in the general sense 'disturbance, fray'): from Anglo-Norman Frenchafrayer 'disturb, startle', based on an element of Germanic origin related to Old Englishfrithu 'peace, safety' (compare with German Friede 'peace').

Although an affray is now a disturbance of the peace caused by fighting in a public place, its first meaning was ‘alarm, fright or terror’ or ‘frighten’. Its root is the old Norman French word afrayer, which also gives us afraid (Middle English).